羊栖菜多糖通过激活Caspase途径诱导Lovo细胞凋亡

研究了羊栖菜多糖（Sargassum Fusiforme Polysaccharides,SFPS）诱导人大肠癌lovo细胞凋亡及凋亡过程中caspase-3、caspase-8、caspase-9的活性变化。MTT法检测SFPS对lovo细胞增殖的抑制率;通过电镜、琼脂糖凝胶电泳、流式细胞术鉴定细胞凋亡;应用Western印迹法测定caspase-3酶原和caspase-9的变化;RToPCR检测caspase-3 mRNA表达;caspase-3,caspase-8、caspase-9活性检测试剂盒观察caspase-3、caspase-8、caspase-9的活性改变。结果显示,SFPS对lovo细胞增殖有显著抑制作用,经形态变化、DNA条带和流式细胞分析,可见明显的细胞凋亡特征。SFPS处理lovo细胞后,发现caspase-3酶原蛋白表达降低,caspase-3 mRNA高表达,并具有剂量和时间的依赖性。而在检测蛋白中,也发现caspase-9被激活进而形成具有活性的片段。另外,caspase的活性检测也进一步发现caspase-3、caspase-9的活性逐步增高。实验结果提示SFPS在体外诱导lovo胞凋亡,这可能是SFPS抑制肿瘤增殖的机制之一,并且是通过激活启动caspase-9,进而激活下游效应caspase-3的级联反应来实现的。     

川芎嗪对大鼠CIR顶叶皮质神经元超微结构及Caspase-9mRNA表达的影响

目的探讨川芎嗪治疗脑缺血再灌注损伤的机制。方法采用Bannisters方法复制大鼠脑缺血再灌注动物模型,利用川芎嗪治疗;在透射电镜下观察顶叶皮质神经元超微结构变化;采用核酸原位杂交技术观察治疗前后额顶叶皮质神经元半胱天冬蛋白酶基因（caspase-9mRNA）的表达变化。结果模型组顶叶皮质神经元水肿,质膜、线粒体膜破裂;溶酶体、内质网和高尔基复合体破坏;caspase-9mRNA数密度增高,着色加深（灰度值下降）。川芎嗪治疗组顶叶皮质神经元质膜、核膜、内质网、线粒体和溶酶体损伤明显减轻;caspase-9mRNA阳性神经元减少,着色变浅。结论川芎嗪下调脑缺血再灌注顶叶皮质神经元中凋亡相关基因caspase-9mRNA的表达并具有神经保护作用。     

CXCR4 和MMP-9 在膀胱移行细胞癌中的表达

目的:探讨CXCR4与MMP-9在膀胱移行细胞癌中表达的相关性及其临床意义.方法:采用免疫组化SP法与半定量RT-PCR检测40例膀胱移行细胞癌组织及10例正常膀胱粘膜组织中CXCR4和MMP-9蛋白及mRNA的表达情况,分析膀胱移行细胞癌组织中CXCR4和MMP-9表达的相关性,分析二者与临床病理特征的关系.结果:膀胱移行细胞癌组织中CXCR4蛋白表达率为77.5％,mRNA相对含量为0,777±0.044;其中浸润深度达肌层者表达率为100％,mRNA相对含量为0.790± 0.049;局限在粘膜下层者表达率为50％,mRNA相对含量为0.660± 0.052;二者之间差异有统计学意义.MMP-9在膀胱移行细胞癌组织中的表达率为80.0％,mRNA相对含量为0.850± 0.079,其中浸润深度达肌层者表达率为95.5％,mRNA相对含量为0.854±0.070,局限在粘膜下层者表达率为61.1％,mRNA相对含量为0.758±0.092,二者之间差异有统计学意义.膀胱移行细胞癌组织中CXCR4及MMP-9蛋白阳性表达呈正相关关系(γ=0.479,P＜0.05).MMP-9与肿瘤组织学分级有关,与患者的性别、年龄无关;而CXCR4的表达与肿瘤组织学分级及患者的性别、年龄均无关.结论:CXCR4和MMP-9表达与膀胱移行细胞癌的发生和浸润密切相关,通过干预CXCR4和MMP-9的活性可能成为治疗膀胱移行细胞癌的新靶点.     

重组荞麦胰蛋白酶抑制剂对人肝癌细胞的凋亡及半胱氨酸天冬酶活性的影响

先前的研究表明,基因重组荞麦胰蛋白酶抑制剂 (rBTI) 具有诱导不同肿瘤细胞凋亡的作用.为了揭示其诱导肿瘤细胞凋亡的可能机理,从基因水平上探讨与凋亡有关的分子事件,本研究用不同浓度的 rBTI 体外作用于人肝癌细胞 HepG2 后,采用 MTT 比色法检测抑制剂对epG2 细胞的抑制率,用 DNA 凝胶电泳和细胞核的形态学观察检测 HepG2 细胞的凋亡.结果表明,rBTI 在体外能够明显抑制 HepG2 细胞的增长,并诱导细胞凋亡.另外,细胞凋亡与Bcl-2/Bax mRNA 水平有关.通过 RT-PCR 检测发现,细胞经过rBTI处理后,抗凋亡基因Bcl-2 mRNA 水平下调,促凋亡基因 Bax mRNA 有所上调,而对照 GAPDH 无变化.对 HepG2细胞中 Fas/Fas 配体及半胱氨酸天冬酶（caspase）的研究证明,细胞经过 rBTI 处理后,对死亡受体 Fas mRNA没有影响; rBTI 可明显激活caspase-3 和 caspase-9 酶活性, 对caspase-8 活性几乎无影响.上述结果表明,rBTI 对HepG2 细胞具有明显的诱导凋亡作用,其诱导细胞凋亡的机制与 caspase-3 依赖性凋亡调节信号通路有关,未涉及 Fas/Fas 配体途径.     

Caspase-8及Caspase-9在肝细胞癌组织中的表达及意义

目的:观察凋亡相关因子半胱氨酸天冬氨酸蛋白酶8(caspase-8)和半胱氨酸天冬氨酸蛋白酶9(caspase-9)在肝细胞癌中的表达及临床病理意义。方法:选择我院自2012年7月~2013年4月的53例肝细胞肝癌患者作为观察组,选择同一时期在医院体检的50例正常肝组织患者作为对照组,采用原位分子杂交方法对两组患者的Caspase-8和Caspase-9mRNA进行检测。结果:观察组与对照组中caspase-8、caspase-9的阳性表达率分别为84.91%(45/53)、88.68%(47/53)和60.00%(30/50)、82.00%(41/50),观察组与对照组比较均有升高趋势,比值有显著性差异(P0.05)。结论:肝癌细胞中caspase-8、caspase-9的较高表达显示在肝癌的发生发展过程中起到重要作用,在肝癌组织细胞增殖凋亡中具有一定作用,肝癌中caspase-8和caspase-9蛋白的表达均对于判断肝癌预后具有一定的临床价值。     

大鼠脑缺血再灌注后Cathepsin D和caspase-9表达的动态变化

目的:探讨大鼠缺血再灌注后溶酶体组织蛋白酶D(Cathepsin D CD)、caspase-9在不同时段蛋白质及mRNA表达变化。方法:将60只S D大鼠随机分为三组:正常组(10只),假手术组(10只),脑缺血再灌注组(40只),线栓法制备大脑中动脉梗死模型(MCAO),免疫组化及RT-PCR法分别检测Cathepsin D、caspase-9的蛋白和mRNA表达。结果:与正常组和假手术组比较,模型组大鼠脑缺血再灌注损伤后6h Cathepsin D的蛋白和mRNA表达明显增强(P<0.05),24h达高峰,48h仍保存高水平。caspase-9蛋白和mRNA6h开始明显升高,12h达高峰,此后缓慢下降,但48h组仍显著高于对照组(P<0.05),结论:Cathepsin D、caspase-9在大鼠脑缺血再灌注后表达增强,溶酶体可能参与了脑缺血再灌注损伤后神经细胞凋亡的过程。     

Caspase-9抑制剂对SD大鼠椎间盘软骨终板细胞凋亡的影响

目的探讨caspase-9抑制剂对低胎牛血清培养诱导的大鼠椎间盘软骨终板细胞凋亡影响的研究。方法取3月龄SD大鼠椎间盘软骨终板,序贯消化法获取细胞原代培养,以1%FBS培养48 h为诱导凋亡条件。实验分为1%FBS凋亡组、caspase-9抑制剂组（Z-LEHD-FMK）及DMSO对照组,分别处理细胞48 h,后经流式细胞仪检测细胞凋亡率、Western blot检测procaspase-9,active caspase-9及active caspase-3的表达。结果流式细胞仪检测显示,caspases-9抑制剂组细胞凋亡率（26.3±2.56）%与1%FBS组（40.8±0.84）%及DMSO组（40.2±1.56）%相比凋亡率较低,有显著统计学差异（P〈0.05）;Western blot检测caspases-9抑制剂组active caspase-9及active caspase-3较1%FBS凋亡组及DMSO对照组表达均明显减少,有显著统计学意义（P〈0.05）。结论 Caspase-9抑制剂能明显抑制低胎牛血清培养诱导的大鼠椎间盘软骨终板细胞凋亡,有望成为治疗椎间盘退变的新型药物。     

Grx1 抑制高糖诱导的H9c2细胞中Caspase-8/3和JNK /c-Jun凋亡通路的激活

谷氧还蛋白1（glutaredoxin 1,Grx1）作为一种重要的抗氧化剂,通过响应多种重要蛋白质的活动和功能调节细胞的关键过程．了解Grx1功能,对寻求糖尿病和心肌病等,以凋亡失调和氧化还原稳态改变为发病机制的疾病的新颖治疗策略至关重要．为研究Grx1对高糖诱导的大鼠心肌细胞凋亡的抑制作用及相关信号机制,本研究以高糖诱导大鼠心肌细胞H9c2建立高糖损伤模型,采用免疫印迹实验检测caspase-3、8、9蛋白活性片段的表达和凋亡信号蛋白JNK/c-Jun的磷酸化水平．结果显示,与正常对照组相比,高糖组caspase家族中,剪切的caspase-3、caspase-8、caspase-9相对含量均显著增多,JNK和c-Jun蛋白的磷酸化水平均显著上调. 但给予外源性Grx1保护后,剪切的caspase-3和caspase-8相对含量均显著降低,JNK和c-Jun蛋白的磷酸化水平均显著下调．上述结果表明,高糖通过介导caspase-8/3和caspase-9/3凋亡通路,并激活凋亡相关信号通路JNK/c-Jun诱导H9c2心肌细胞凋亡．给予外源性Grx1保护后,可通过抑制caspase-8/3凋亡通路和JNK /c-Jun信号通路的激活,拮抗高糖诱导的心肌细胞凋亡．     

梁氏异蝎毒素促进KYSE-510细胞凋亡的作用机制研究

为了研究蝎毒抑制肿瘤细胞生长的机理,提取梁氏异蝎Heterometrus liangi蝎毒干预人食管癌细胞(KYSE-510细胞),运用流式细胞术、电镜技术、逆转录PCR和Western blot方法分别检测蝎毒对KYSE-510细胞凋亡的影响以及对caspase-3基因表达。结果表明:经蝎毒处理的实验组KYSE-510活细胞数量显著减少,其原因是蝎毒引起细胞大量凋亡和坏死。经不同浓度(50μg·m L~(-1),100μg·m L~(-1),200μg·m L~(-1))蝎毒处理的KYSE-510细胞与对照组的caspase-3基因在mRNA水平表达相近,而在蛋白表达水平上,实验组细胞与对照组细胞相比,蝎毒促进了caspase-3的剪切活化,且以200μg·m L~(-1)蝎毒处理的KYSE-510细胞caspase-3的剪切活化最强,由此证明蝎毒导致KYSE-510细胞凋亡的机理之一可能是其促进了caspase-3的剪切活化。     

2型糖尿病伴慢性牙周炎患者龈沟液Omentin-1、MMP-9、OPG/RANKL比值与牙周指标、氧化应激和NLRP3炎症小体的关系

摘要 目的：探讨2型糖尿病（T2DM）伴慢性牙周炎（CP）患者龈沟液网膜素-1（Omentin-1）、基质金属蛋白酶-9（MMP-9）、骨保护素（OPG）/细胞核因子κB受体活化因子配体（RANKL）比值与牙周指标、氧化应激和核苷酸结合寡聚化结构域样受体蛋白3（NLRP3）炎症小体的关系。方法：选择2020年6月至2022年6月首都医科大学附属北京康复医院收治的73例T2DM患者（T2DM组）,77例CP患者（CP组）,83例T2DM伴CP患者（T2DM伴CP组）。检测所有患者龈沟液中Omentin-1、MMP-9、OPG/RANKL比值,分析其与牙周指标、氧化应激和NLRP3炎症小体相关分子信使核糖核酸（mRNA）表达的相关性。结果：T2DM伴CP组龈沟液中Omentin-1,OPG/RANKL比值、总抗氧化能力（TAC）、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）低于T2DM组和CP组（P＜0.05）,MMP-9、丙二醛（MDA）、NLRP3mRNA、凋亡相关斑点样蛋白（ASC）mRNA、半胱氨酸蛋白酶-1（caspase-1）mRNA表达以及出血指数（SBI）、菌斑指数（PLI）、牙周袋探诊深度（PD）、附着丧失（AL）高于T2DM组和CP组（P＜0.05）。T2DM伴CP患者龈沟液中Omentin-1、OPG/RANKL比值与TAC、SOD呈正相关（P＜0.05）,与MDA、NLRP3mRNA、ASC mRNA、caspase-1mRNA表达以及PLI、SBI、AL、PD呈负相关（P＜0.05）,MMP-9与TAC、SOD呈负相关（P＜0.05）,与MDA、NLRP3mRNA、ASC mRNA、caspase-1mRNA表达以及PLI、SBI、AL、PD呈正相关（P＜0.05）。结论：T2DM伴CP患者龈沟液中Omentin-1水平、OPG/ RANKL比值降低,MMP-9水平升高,与牙周组织破坏加重、氧化应激、NLRP3炎症小体激活有关。     

Identification of an alternative form of caspase-9 in human gastric cancer cell lines: a role of a caspase-9 variant in apoptosis resistance

Overcoming apoptosis resistance to chemotherapy and radiation may lead to a reduction in gastric cancer death. We hypothesize that the apoptotic machinery in gastric cancer cells is dependent upon specific cellular conditions. In the course of our study of the expression of apoptosis-related genes in human gastric cancer cell lines, we have identified a cDNA clone which predicts an alternative form of caspase-9. The caspase-9 variant, which we designated as caspase-9 beta, retained a truncated structure of native caspase-9 without its catalytic domain and was expressed in seven cell lines from human gastric cancer. Among the cell lines examined, MKN-28 cells, which exhibited the most resistance against apoptotic stimuli, expressed the highest level of caspase-9 beta. The induction of apoptosis by staurosporine or actinomycin D was markedly suppressed in caspase-9 beta-transfected HeLa cells. These results are consistent with our hypothesis that the caspase-9 beta may be an endogenous dominant-negative molecule which attenuates apoptotic activity in human gastric cancer cells.     

SRSF1 regulates the alternative splicing of caspase 9 via a novel intronic splicing enhancer affecting the chemotherapeutic sensitivity of non-small cell lung cancer cells

Increasing evidence points to the functional importance of alternative splice variations in cancer pathophysiology with the alternative pre-mRNA processing of caspase 9 as one example. In this study, we delve into the underlying molecular mechanisms that regulate the alternative splicing of caspase 9. Specifically, the pre-mRNA sequence of caspase 9 was analyzed for RNA cis-elements known to interact with SRSF1, a required enhancer for caspase 9 RNA splicing. This analysis revealed 13 possible RNA cis-elements for interaction with SRSF1 with mutagenesis of these RNA cis-elements identifying a strong intronic splicing enhancer located in intron 6 (C9-I6/ISE). SRSF1 specifically interacted with this sequence, which was required for SRSF1 to act as a splicing enhancer of the inclusion of the 4 exon cassette. To further determine the biological importance of this mechanism, we employed RNA oligonucleotides to redirect caspase 9 pre-mRNA splicing in favor of caspase 9b expression, which resulted in an increase in the IC(50) of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells to daunorubicin, cisplatinum, and paclitaxel. In contrast, downregulation of caspase 9b induced a decrease in the IC(50) of these chemotherapeutic drugs. Finally, these studies showed that caspase 9 RNA splicing was a major mechanism for the synergistic effects of combination therapy with daunorubicin and erlotinib. Overall, we have identified a novel intronic splicing enhancer that regulates caspase 9 RNA splicing and specifically interacts with SRSF1. Furthermore, we showed that the alternative splicing of caspase 9 is an important molecular mechanism with therapeutic relevance to NSCLCs.     

SRp30a (ASF/SF2) regulates the alternative splicing of caspase-9 pre-mRNA and is required for ceramide-responsiveness

Two splice variants are derived from the caspase-9 gene, proapoptotic caspase-9a and antiapoptotic caspase-9b, by either the inclusion or exclusion of an exon 3, 4, 5, and 6 cassette. Previous studies from our laboratory have shown that the alternative splicing of caspase-9 and the phosphorylation status of SR proteins, a conserved family of splicing factors, are regulated by chemotherapy and ceramide via the action of protein phosphatase-1. In this study, a link between ceramide, SR proteins, and the alternative splicing of caspase-9 was established. The downregulation of SRp30a in A549 cells by RNA interference technology resulted in an increase in the caspase-9b splice variant, with a concomitant decrease in the caspase-9a splice variant, thereby significantly decreasing the caspase-9a/9b ratio from 1.67 +/- 0.11 to 0.56 +/- 0.08 (P < 0.005). The specific downregulation of SRp30a also inhibited the ability of exogenous ceramide treatment to induce the inclusion of the exon 3, 4, 5, and 6 cassette. Therefore, we have identified SRp30a as an RNA trans-acting factor that functions as a major regulator of caspase-9 pre-mRNA processing and is required for ceramide to mediate the alternative splicing of caspase-9.     

Teratogen-induced activation of caspase-6 and caspase-7 in early postimplantation mouse embryos

BACKGROUND: Previous work has shown that teratogens such as hyperthermia (HS), 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide (4CP), and staurosporine (ST) induce cell death in day 9 mouse embryos by activating the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. Key to the activation of this pathway is the activation of a caspase cascade involving the cleavage-induced activation of an initiator procaspase, caspase-9, and the downstream effector procaspase, caspase-3. For example, procaspase-3, an inactive proenzyme of 32 kDa is cleaved by activated caspase-9 to generate a large subunit of approximately 17 kDa and a small subunit of approximately 10 kDa. In turn, caspase-3 is known to target a variety of cellular proteins for proteolytic cleavage as part of the process by which dying cells are eliminated. Previous work has also shown that neuroepithelial cells are sensitive to teratogen-induced activation of this pathway and subsequent cell death whereas cells of the heart are resistant. Although caspase-3 is a key effector caspase activated by teratogens, two other effector caspases, caspase-6 and caspase-7, are known; however, their role in teratogen-induced cell death is unknown. METHODS: Because cleavage-induced generation of specific subunits is the most specific assay for activation of caspases, we have used antibodies that recognize the procaspase and one of its active subunits and a Western blot approach to assess the activation of caspase-6 and caspase-7 in day 9 mouse embryos (or heads, hearts and trunks isolated from whole embryos) exposed to HS, 4CP, and ST. To probe the relationship between teratogen-induced activation of caspase-9/caspase-3 and the activation of caspase-6/caspase-7, we used a mitochondrial-free embryo lysate with or without the addition of cytochrome c, recombinant active caspase-3, or recombinant active caspase-9. RESULTS: Western blot analyses show that these three teratogens, HS, 4CP, and ST, induce the activation of procaspase-6 (appearance of the 13 kDa subunit, p13) and caspase-7 (appearance of the 19 kDa subunit, p19) in day 9 mouse embryos. In vitro studies showed that both caspase-6 and caspase-7 could be activated by the addition of cytochrome c to a lysate prepared from untreated embryos. In addition, caspase-6 could be activated by the addition of either recombinant caspase-3 or caspase-9 to a lysate prepared from untreated embryos. In contrast, caspase-7 could be activated by addition of recombinant caspase-3 but only minimally by recombinant caspase-9. Like caspase-9/caspase-3, caspase-6 and caspase-7 were not activated in hearts isolated from embryos exposed to these three teratogens. CONCLUSIONS: HS, 4CP and ST induce the cleavage-dependent activation of caspase-6 and caspase-7 in day 9 mouse embryos. Results using DEVD-CHO, a caspase-3 inhibitor, suggest that teratogen-induced activation of caspase-6 is mediated by caspase-3. In addition, our data suggest that caspase-7 is activated primarily by caspase-3; however, we cannot rule out the possibility that this caspase is also activated by caspase-9. Finally, we also show that teratogen-induced activation of caspase-6 and caspase-7 are blocked in the heart, a tissue resistant to teratogen-induced cell death.     

Increased expression of Apaf-1 and procaspase-3 and the functionality of intrinsic apoptosis apparatus in non-small cell lung carcinoma

The intrinsic apoptosis apparatus plays a significant role in generating and amplifying cell death signals. In this study we examined whether there are differences in the expression of its components and in its functioning in non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) and the lung. We show that NSCLC cell lines express Apaf-1 and procaspase-9 and -3 proteins and that the expression of Apaf-1 and procaspase-3, but not of procaspase-9 and -7, is frequently up-regulated in NSCLC tissues as compared to the lung. NSCLC tissues and lungs and some NSCLC cell lines expressed also caspase-9S(b) and displayed a high caspase-9S(b)/procaspase-9 expression ratio. Procaspase-3 from NSCLCs and lungs was readily processed to caspase-3 by granzyme B or caspase-8, and the granzyme B-generated caspase-3-like activity was significantly higher in tumor tissues and cells than in lungs. By contrast, cytochrome c plus dATP could induce a significant increase of caspase-3-like activity in cytosol only in some NSCLC cell lines and in subsets of studied NSCLC tissues and lungs, while procaspase-3 and -7 were detectably processed only in NSCLC tissues which showed a high (cytochrome c+dATP)-induced caspase-3-like activity. Taken together, the present study provides evidence that the expression of Apaf-1 and procaspase-3 is up-regulated in NSCLCs and indicates that the tumors have a capability to suppress the apoptosome-driven caspase activation in their cytosol.     

凋亡体与细胞凋亡

由细胞色素C（Cytochrome c,Cyt c）、ATP/dATP、凋亡酶激活因子-1（apoptotic protease activating factor-1,Apaf-1）以及procaspase-9（caspase-9的前体）构成的约700 kDa、具有很强的caspase酶激活活性的大分子蛋白复合物——凋亡体（apoptosome）,在哺乳动物线粒体凋亡途径和胚胎发育中至关重要。描述了凋亡体上各因子的结构、功能及其相互关系,线粒体介导的凋亡通路中凋亡体的形成及其调控。     

hnRNP U Enhances Caspase-9 Splicing and Is Modulated by AKT-dependent Phosphorylation of hnRNP L

Caspase-9 has two splice variants, pro-apoptotic caspase-9a and anti-apoptotic caspase-9b, which are regulated by RNA trans-factors associated with exon 3 of caspase-9 pre-mRNA (C9/E3). In this study, we identified hnRNP U as an RNA trans-factor associated with C9/E3. Down-regulation of hnRNP U led to a decrease in the caspase-9a/9b mRNA ratio, demonstrating a novel enhancing function. Importantly, hnRNP U bound specifically to C9/E3 at an RNA cis-element previously reported as the binding site for the splicing repressor, hnRNP L. Phosphorylated hnRNP L interfered with hnRNP U binding to C9/E3, and our results demonstrate the importance of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/AKT pathway in modulating the association of hnRNP U to C9/E3. Taken together, these findings show that hnRNP U competes with hnRNP L for binding to C9/E3 to enhance the inclusion of the four-exon cassette, and this splice-enhancing function is blocked by the AKT pathway via phosphorylation of hnRNP L.